Woodpecker stop killing my tree

Wood shavings at the base of the tree

A resin rimmed nest for the woodpecker

One of the Canarium trees has a nicely shaped hollow, made by the golden backed woodpecker. I have never seen the bird but Rangan, my field guide has and I believe him. The nest has been carved out so beautifully and has a resin lined rim. Only wish the woodpecker had chosen a larger tree, this one is too young to be bored into so much. Not only has the bird been nesting since the past 6 months, he/she has been actively chipping away at the wood, as is evident from the wood shavings all around the base of the tree. Rangan is mighty upset and was looking at the tree and the nest yesterday and asking out loud to the bird, "did you have to pick on such a young tree, the tree will fall very soon."

Welcome back Anita

2012 did not exist for me in my blog page! It went by on the wings of the seeds that float by me in early spring in the forests of the canarium trees. All I did to the blog was to change the title to underthecanariumcanopy and never returned. I was taken up by the blazing colors of the canarium canopy under which i spent some time and continue to spend. Determined as I am that in 2013 I will write more of my thoughts down, too much is happening around me all the time and there must be time  to reflect.

Life for a tree has many springs, many summers; each year it comes to bear new flowers, fruits, blush with the new red leaves. Was happy to see the trees again in January looking as resplendent as ever. Nothing changes for these majestic beings, they are constant as the stars, watching us down from the canopy, at us humans and our constantly changing ways.

Resilience

Resilience - a word that has stuck to me and catches my eye when ever I see it. I wonder why I am drawn so much to it, it could be another name for the Earth.
Interesting poem I read weeks ago while browsing through the newspaper and I wrote it down hoping to pick it up sometime. I never remembered to look for it but today the note I scribbled is staring at me from one of my books.

Resilience: to stand in the path of lightning
Resilience: to walk when darkness falls at noon
Resilience: to grind yourself fine in the turning mill
Resilience will come to you.

I, Lalla - The Poems of Lal Ded by Ranjith Hoskote

http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/D/DedLal/

Not older just more literate...

I can't help reading this sign which says 'Visitors Welcome', every time I pass by. It stands at the entrance to the Japanese garden in front of the dorm. I can't remember a sign put up as an invitation, except as a conference banner!

I burnt my tongue the other day eating fries. My first reaction was to look if the bag had a sign which said 'Hot- Let cool before eating' or something.... Getting too used to reading for a living.

Listened to a talk by poet Stephen Winduo from Papua New Guinea - Chewing Buai and Poetry in Papua New Guinea . Buai = Betel nut. 840 languages in PNG, largely alive through an oral tradition.

Heard another scholar who works on 10th century english manuscripts say that literacy reduces memory power. Well next time someone says its because I am getting older I can counter by saying " I am just getting more literate "

Close encounters with another kind...

First he looked pissed off that I was coming back and earning a PhD. This was not the usual 'Aloha' I had gotten used to hearing in Hawaii. Then he told me to place 4 fingers on his little fingerprinting box. He also muttered to look at the camera. After which he did his own thing and never told me when to take my hand off. After 60 seconds of keeping my fingers on his green lit box I asked if I could take my hands off and he pretended not to hear. I waited another 30 seconds and asked again at which time he muttered something which I took for 'Yes'. I have a rule, never ask any questions and never answer more than what was asked – this rule has helped me get through a lot of immigration, customs, visa interviews and etc. But today I had to break the rule. Again while he was flipping the pages of my much flipped passport I noticed that the boarding pass that I had stowed away had fallen between him and his table. I hoped it had fallen to the floor and not just rested somewhere in the middle. I asked again after my passport was safely returned, for the boarding pass. Well he got up for me and then with his polished boots kicked it outside his itsy bitsy cubicle and I stooped down humbly to pick it up almost imagining that in another day and age he would have liked to kick me in the face with those shoes. I know that people have had worse experiences and this one was good enough for me.

Well this added to my weariness in this return. The gentleman had also signed off on my customs card for a inspection of my bags. Well after I picked up my bags I went to the customs officer who asked me to take the bags to the X-ray machine. I was intercepted on the way by another officer who looked at me and asked if I was a student and what kind of foods I was carrying. When I mentioned pickles and spices, he only wanted to know if they were whole spices and I said no. He just waved his hand and asked to exit. Maybe he knew I was a botanist and would not add to the problems in Hawaii with more seeds sneaked in to add to the invasives list!!

Back to Hawaii

Full of homesickness and apprehensions about the future semester, I boarded the plane in Mumbai headed back to Hawaii which is now my 'Place of residence'. Incidentally if I had written 'Timbaktu' on the immigration card how would it matter to them!! I had decided to take a break at the beginning of the semester to do some pre proposal surveys and take part in a workshop at Keystone.

I made it my passion to sleep on this long haul flight and I even refused the free alcohol (which was more to avoid having to go to the bathroom). I didn't read and I didn't watch a movie – I was determined to be miserable.

The plane touched down at Honolulu an hour ahead of schedule, just when I was not ready to come back. To top it I was presented to a very grumpy immigration officer, my very first experience in the many entries I have made in to the US of A. More about that in my post on 'Close encounters with another kind'. Lisa my colleague at the lab came to get me from the airport with a lovely Lei of Ginger flowers. The fragrance helped to calm me and awaken me to the beauty of Hawaii. I started to come back to my Hawaiian reality.

We drove to the campus and I checked into my old room at the dorm and as the day moved on I met so many people who just welcomed me. I stayed awake to beat the jetlag. I slept only at 8.30 pm inspite of landing at 8:00 am. But I woke up at 12pm the next day. Oh man, the jet lag has got to me.

So here I am at night feeling bright and chirpy still on India time but in 24 hours so glad to be back. It really is a wonderful place this teeny island in the middle of the deep blue sea. It poured as only it can pour in the tropics and I love to hear the rain and the gushing of the stream. I am really lucky like in Kotagiri I never hear traffic from my bedroom. One of Merab's friends was telling me that in the middle of the night one can hear traffic sounds in Rishi Valley!!

Organised my room and my food and am ready to meet the world on Monday morning. Had a nice long chat with Tamara in the afternoon. Also got a bowl of noodle and bean soup from Gustavo which was so refreshing. Shopped for grocery and got back by 6 to the room. Some phone calls to reconnect with friends. A little more reorganising. A warm cup of coffee with milk (organic milk brought at the supermarket which it says will stay fresh till March 16^th! Either the milk man in Kotagiri is adding chemicals to make the milk go bad in 24 hours even if refrigerated or these organic guys are pulling a fast one on me!)

Gave up my laptop, feeling light as each semester it seems I shed more baggage!

After the coffee decided to recreate the magic of soupy Ramen noodles ( feature of student life here in the dorms) for dinner on a rainy night. If it wasn't for the company of friends from SriLanka, New Zealand, Korea and Malaysia at the dinner table I think the soup would have been all in the sink. Because of the company I was able to have more than 70% of it. I think I must wait for a couple of days before I forget the fabulous food I had in India and learn to appreciate the instant remedies for hunger – Ramen noodles and Pasta with canned sauces!! I think a seasoning of curry leaves and mustard would have saved the soup from the bin!

Feeling settled already. Looking forward to my Monday and all the schedules of this Spring Semester 2011. Happy New Year – Chinese style. Year of the Rabbit (Meat and Bones included?)???

Middle of the term numbness

Sometimes my head feels numb, I don't think its ever done only read and write and think.....cooking, laundry, room cleaning, are all, once a week. Eating, bathing and sleeping are daily....Its a very limited life this, some call it a luxury, I am still not sure...
Went upto the music auditorium and sat through an hour and a half of a concert by a student. Pieces were composed as part of his final exam. The next week went for a Japanese concert - Gagaku - ancient music and dance form. Yet another day watched the students of theatre perfom ' Waiting for Godot' - Beckett.
Made a presentation at the Wednesday evening seminar at the East West Center on wetlands, the panel was on water. Enjoyed working with students from Pakistan,Nepal, Pacific islands.
This blog is looking pretty boring, its a reflection of my life?? Its been very study focussed and these performances are the only spaces I give myself out of this.
Last weekend was the International Potluck of the East West Center students. Spent a short while helping my friend from Peru make some elaborate dishes. The chillies were yellow pepper and they were hot. There was food from 16 countries for sampling. I can't even remember what I ate. I only know I slept like a log in the middle of the day, first time in Hawaii!
Before I forget my hands are blistered from weeding the little garden plot I have taken over from Vandana. The plot has a curry leaf tree and a banana clump. Have planted some chillies, beans, basil, thyme and tomatoes. Will plant some mint tomorrow. I decided to keep my feet free of mud and wore the boots and now my feet are all blistered, a little mud would have hurt less!!
This was my break from the term paper that I am composing on Coevolution...Just finished the NTFP paper and 2 proposals ( 2 page ones).